Thick Skin and An Elastic Heart

Look, all I’m saying is that I busted my ass to learn how to parallel park for my driver’s test and have I ever parked in a parallel space? No. 

You know, I hear in some states, it’s not mandatory.

Isabelle walked out from the room and wrapped her robe around herself, staring at Brooke confused. “Hey…are you …lost?”

Brooke looked around, dropping the bottle to her side. “You know, I just might be.”

“I don’t think you heard me, get out.” 

“Girl you need Jesus!”

“Come on, Brooke. Don’t play all humble with me, you are good at way more things than just being flattering.”

“I mean, math and science and stuff won’t get me anywhere though.”

“Yeah, which kind of sucks. Because if you think about it not many people think that being a bartender, nanny and street artist is a real job. But hey, being bilingual helps.”

“God, all those things sound so cool. You live the dream, my friend.”

The door opening didn’t make the mathematician look up from his papers, asymmetric and messy numbers covered the yellow legal pad pages that had Matthew’s undivided attention, since there had been no knock he assumed it to be Oliver – who would give him an eye roll, check on the sleeping Tiana and grab a book without bothering him –, or Lindsay or Beca. A minimal part of his brain expected the familiar voices, but instead he heard Brooke’s. 

Brooke frowned. “Wow, this is uncomfortable. Bummer,” she groaned, dropping the bottle to her side. She watched as Matt stretched and cocked her head to one side. “Math things?” she asked, gesturing to the papers in front of him.

“I don’t care who you are, or how much alcohol you’ve had. This is not your cabin, get out.”

“Somebody’s touchy! What poked you in the wrong side today?”

“Now you are just being flattering. I’ll just come to you whenever I need an ego boost.”

“Well, everybody’s good at something.”

“Being unemployed was fun for a while, though I think that when a toddler starts calling you Mom you’ve got to print a resume for the first time in your life.”

‘Oh God, yeah I can see how that would pose some problems.”

❛   I don’t know where they came from… My wallet and a purse, they took everything. I tried to defend myself. But, it didn’t really work out.

“Are you insane? Why didn’t you call for help?”

“Turns out, I’ve needed glasses all my life and that’s what my headaches are about. Welcome to another chapter of shitty parenting.”

“You look stunning. Way more stunning than I could ever look in glasses.”

❛  Nothing to concern yourself about.

“But you have a huge scar on your arm, how the hell could you have gotten that?”

❛  Where did you find it?

“Under a tree or something. Maybe the beach? i don’t remember.”